After the launch, the observer secures the building and returns to the RRS computer workstation in order to lock onto the balloon. The observer must also quality control the data and fixes any errors that may be present throughout the flight in the sounding. Typical errors that need to be corrected include super adiabatic lapse rates off of the surface and relative humidity errors off of the surface as well.
The observer has a number of graphical displays and data readouts at their disposal to quality control the data during the typical 1:45 minute flight. At select intervals throughout the flight, radiosonde data is transmitted to the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) to be ingested into the various forecast models. The data is also quality controlled at NCEP as well.
Detailed Pressure Plot Depicting Raw Pressure, Smoothed Pressure, and Corrected Pressure
Wind Speed and Wind Direction Data Graphical Display
Once the sounding reaches its termination level, typically 90,000 – 100,000 feet as mentioned earlier, the flight is terminated and the remaining data is transmitted to NCEP. The observer collects data from the flight summary screen and uploads the flight data to the National Climate and Data Center (NCDC) for archiving. The flight data is also entered into a standard form which is sent to the National Weather Service Headquarters in the Washington, D.C. area monthly.
Here is sample of the coded messages sent to NCEP and NCDC:
TTBB 80120 72489 00862 00856 11836 01056 22821 00057 33815 00859 44809 01458 55802 02064 66796 02263 77790 02464 88785 02670 99783 02664 11780 02463 22775 02268 33757 01263 44750 02269 55745 02070 66740 02279 77736 02475 88679 01374 99665 01578 11573 09578 22484 20769 33442 25175 44381 34375 55357 36975 66274 51766 77262 53365 88246 57164 99190 68561 11181 68761 22176 69961 33170 68161 44163 70161 55161 69361 66160 67161 77157 67161 88147 63962 99137 65562 11125 62363 22116 63763 33111 62363 44110 62763 31313 58708 81104 41414 00900
Flight Termination Screen
Flight Termination Height
32,852 meters = 107,755 feet!
If you would like to learn more about the coded messages and how to de-code the messages please click here.
RRS Data Readouts and Graphical Displays
www.weather.gov 
